Car-coupling



(No Model.)

HG. SESSION-S.

GAR GOUPLING..

Patented Dec. 7, 1886.

gnphar, Washmglcn. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

EGBEBT G. SESSIONS, OF RICE, TEXAS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353,974, dated December 7, 1886.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EGBERT G. SESSIONS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rice, in the county of Navarro and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specifi ation.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of car-couplings in which the opposite draw-heads are detachably connected by means of a horizontally-slidable coupling pin or pins.

My invention consists in the combination, with a yielding draw-head having a horizontally movable coupling pin and a pivoted lever connected to said pin, of a rotatable latchingplate connected with said lever by a rod or chain, a spring for acting on the pinlever, and a spring-catch for engaging the latch-plate, said catch and latch-plate being disengaged by the pressure of the draw-head in the act of coupling, thereby releasing the retracted coupling-pin and allowing it to antomatically engage the opposite draw-head.

The invention further consists in certain pe culiarities in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter describedand claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end of a box-car provided with my improved automatic coupling attachments. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, showing the position of the horizontally-movable pin and its connections when the car is coupled. 'Fig. 3 shows the pin-lever and rotatable latch-plate engaged with their locking devices to prevent the coupling-pin from engaging a contacting drawhead when two adjoining cars are not to be coupled. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the coupled draw'heads. Fig. 5 is aside elevation of my improved draw-head. Fig. 6 is a crosssection of the same.

The letter A designates a yielding drawhead, which is made substantially like that shown in my Letters Patent No. 338,107, dated March 16, 1586. This draw-headis provided with a rear extension, B, and with forward projections, O and D. The body of the draw-head and its rear extension, B, are pro- The other forward projection, as D, is wedgeshaped, and is located near the opposite side of the drawhead. The outer side of this wedge-shaped projection D is parallel with the rectangular projection O, and its inner side is inclined or tapered forward.

By referring to Fig. 4. it will be seen that the space between the projection O D is of such extent and shape as to admit the wedgeshaped proj ection D of the opposite draw-head when the cars provided with such draw-heads are brought together, while the rectangular projections C O of the respective draw-heads occupy an external position.

In the inner end of each draw-head projection 0 and D is formed an enlarged perforation, d, for passage of a horizontally-slidable couplingpin, E, pertaining to and carried by said draw-head. The outer end of the rectangular projection G is provided on its inner side with a vertically-elongated recess, e, and the outer end of the wedge-shaped projection D has a corresponding vertically-elongated slot, f, for passage of the horizontal couplingpin carried by the opposite draw-head.

By recessing the projection 6, instead of slotting it, a sufficient bearing will. be afforded for the end of the coupling-pin without impairing the strength of the projection.

XVhen the opposing draw-heads are engaged, the coupling-pins E Eare passed horizontally through the interlocking projections O D from opposite sides of the draw-heads, each pin being engaged in the enlarged perforations d d of one draw-head and in the vertical slot f and vertical recess 6 of the other draw-head. The perforations d d are preferably somewhat elongated in a horizontal direction to allow the pins E E to have a forward and back playwith the yielding horizontal movements of the drawhead to which theyare attached, the vertical slot f and recess 6 of each draw-head being also of such width as to permit a free play of 100 the couplingpin carried by the opposite drawhead. A firm and steady draftis thus secured, and at the same time the coupling-pins have sufficient playto enable thecars to turn curves readily withoutliability of derailment.

It will be observed that the vertically-elongated recess a and vertical slot f in each drawhead allows the horizontal pin carried by the opposite draw-head to have an up and down movement, so as to facilitate the coupling of cars having draw-heads of unequal heights.

Each coupling-pin Eis pivoted in the lower bifurcated end of a lever, F, which is pivoted either to the end of the car or to the platformrail, a guide, 9, being provided for the upper endof said lever, if desired. This lever F is connected by a chain or rod, h, to a rotatable latch-plate, G, which is pivoted to one corner of the car within easy reach from the ground.

The rotatable latch-plate G has a'handle, t, by which it can be turned, and it also has a peripheral notch, 70, and an inclined face projection, m, the under side of which forms an abrupt shoulder or catch. The notch 70 in the periphery of the pivoted plate G is adapted to engage a hook-catch, H, pivoted to the side of the car, thereby locking the latch-plate in such position as to render the withdrawn coupling-pininoperative. The retracted couplingpin can also be held in an inoperative position by means of a hook-catch, l, pivoted to the top of the car and adapted to engage the upper end of the pin-carrying lever.

To the end of'the car immediately in rear of the yielding draw-head, and beneath ornear the inner edge of the rotatable latch-plate G, is attached aspring-catch, K, for engaging the shoulder a, at the lower end of the inclined projection in on the face of said latch-plate. The lower end of this catch K rests against a spring, 10, of anysuitable material, set in arecess formed in the end of the car-frame, the

depth of said recess being sufficient to permit the lower end of the catch K to move inward under pressure of the yielding draw-head, and

- so throw the upper end of said latch outward and disengage it from the rotatablelatch-plate G, thereby allowing the latter to rotate under the pressure of a spring, L, against the lever F, which is thus made to move the couplingpin E automatically inward and into engage ment with-the contacting draw-head.

It will be seen that when the catches H and 'I are disengaged from the latch-plate G and lever F, respectively, and said latch-plate engaged only with the spring-catch K, the coupling-pin E will be held in a withdrawn position, ready for coupling. If two cars with coupling attachments so arranged are now brought together, the concussion of the drawheads will cause them to yield sufficiently to come in contact with the lower ends of the spring-catches K K, pressing the same inward and disengaging their upper ends from the shoulders a a on the respective latch-plates G G, so as to allow the levers F F'to be actuated by their springs L L, and thus carry the horizontally-movable couplingpins E E into automatic engagement with the interlocking draw-heads. In order to uncouple the cars, it is only necessary to turn the rotatable latchplates G G outward by means of their handles 2' i, the inclined face projections m m riding under the upper ends of the catches K K until the latter come into engagement with the shoulders a 11. under the outward pressure of the springs 12 p at the lower ends of said catches. The outward rotation of the plates G G draws on the rods h h, thereby moving the upper ends of the levers F F inward against the pressure of their springs 'L L, and so retracts the coupling-pins and disengages the cars. If it is now desired to lock the coupling-pins, so that they will remain inactive and prevent coupling in case the cars should be moved in contact with each other, it is only necessary to turn the catches H and L, either or both, into engagement with the latch-plates G and levers F, respectively. By means of the levers F and rotatable latch-plates G, the cars can thus be readily uncoupled, either from the side or top, without danger, and the coupling pins then looked to prevent accidental coupling, if

desired; and it is evident that the relative position of the levers F, latch-plates G, and their fastenings H and -I will indicate at a glance whether the coupling-pins are in a normal operative condition or not, thus avoiding much trouble in inspecting the cars preparatory to coupling.

WhatI claim as my invention is 1. In an automatic car-coupling, the combination, with interlocking draw-heads and a pivoted lever carrying a horizontally-slidable coupling-pin, of a rotatable latch-plate connected with said lever, a spring-catch for engaging-said latch-plate, said catch and latchplate being disengaged by pressure of the yielding draw-head in the act 'of coupling, and a spring for actuating the released lever, thereby moving the horizontal pin of one draw-head into engagement with the opposite draw-head,' substantially as'described.

2. The combination, with a yielding drawhead and a horizontally-slidable coupling-pin, of a swinging spring-pressed vertically-arranged lever pivoted intermediate its ends and connected at its lower end with the couplingpin, a catch-plate rotatable in avertical plane at one end of the car and connected with the .lever above the pivot thereof, and a pivoted spring catch having one 'end engaging the catch-plate, atits other end engaging the drawhead, substantially as described.

3.-The combination, with draw-heads having forward projections, O D, provided at their inner ends with perforations d d and at their outer ends with a vertically-elongated recess,

e, and a vertically-elongated slot, f, respectively, of horizontally-movable coupling-pins E E, spring-actuated leversFF, carryingsaid and the spring-catches K K, engaging said pins, and means for locking said levers, sublatch-plates, substantially as described. 10 stantially as described. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in 4. The combination of the yielding interpresence of two witnesses. 5 locking draw-heads AA, horizontally-movable E. G. SESSIONS.

coupling-pins E E, spring-actuated levers F F, Witnesses: carrying said pins, movable latch-plates G G, JAMES L. NORRIS,

rods h h, connecting saidlevers and latch-plates, J 0s. L. CooMBs. 

